Governor



W. MALECKI GOVERNOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20,4 1956 .MJL mm 1 o fw Tm m 1d E N /W 4 y l MM #l L o 5 Z 0, ew s 7 5 u 4 w M SMMN W W if 5 y j 2m. .w x. 4M A20 4 L P 4 los .M a M M Q United States Patent GOVERNOR Witold Malecki, Ann Arbor, Mich., assigner to Kihg- Seeley Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan vApplication December 20, 1956, Serial No. 629,614

8Claims. (Cl. 137-484) This invention relates to governors for internal combustion engines and, more particualrly, to an improved velocity or mixture ow-type governor for controlling the speed of an internal combustion engine on an automotive vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved velocity or mixture oW-type governor of the indicated character incorporating improved means for controlling the governed speed range or regulation of the governor over a wide range of engine load conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved velocity or mixture How-type Igovernor incorporating improved means for increasing the peak horse power obtainable at governed speeds lby the engine associated therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved velocity or mixture flow-type governor incorporating improved means for controlling the governing speed of the governor under no load and light engine load conditions at relatively high altitudes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved velocity or mixture ilow-type governor which prevents the engine of an automotive vehicle from exceeding a predetermined speed over a Wide range of engine load conditions and which operates quickly and eiciently in response to changes in speed and load on the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved velocity or mixture iloW-type governor lthat is economical to manufacture and assemble, durable, efficient and reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved velocity or mixture ow-type governor which may be easily and quickly adjusted with a minimum of labor andl expense to meet the requirements of a particular internal combustion engine. y

The above as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away, of a velocity or mixture flow-type governor embodying the present invention, showing the throttle plate thereof in the wide open position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 but showing the throttle plate thereof in a no load governing position;

Fig. 3 :is a top plan view, with portions in section, of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a graph showing the effective torque applied to the throttle plate by the over center device of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating certain characteristics of a governor embodying, the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to 28,888,031 Patented May 26, 19519 Figures 1-4 thereof, a velocity or mixture How-type governor generally designated 10 is illustrated which embodies the present invention, although it will be understood that the present invention is applicable to other uses. The governor 10 is adapted to \be inserted between the carburetor and the intake manifold (not shown) of the fuel induction system of an internal combustion engine, sueh as conventionally employed on an automotive vehicle. The tfuel mixture emanating from the carburetor passes through the governor 10 and passes from the governor into the intake manifold which serves to distribute the fuel mixture to the engine cylinders.

FPhe governor 10 is comprised of a body 12 that defines a passageway 14 which is open at each end and which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is substantially circular in cross section, although it will be understood that the cross-sectional conguration of the passageway 14 may be other than circular. The body 12 is provided With mounting flanges 16 and 18 which facilitate the installation of the governor 10 between the carburetor and the intake manifold, the governor lbeing retained by bolts (not shown) which pass through openings 20 in the body in outwardly spaced relationship with respect to the passageway 14. A throttle plate 22 is provided which is fixed to a shaft 24, the longitudinal axis of the shaft 24 extending transversely of the passageway 14 and `being oiset in parallel relationship with respect to the diameter of the passageway. The throttle plate 22 is also offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 24 so that the portion 26 of the throttle plate with the greatest area extends generally upwardly, as viewed in Figs. l and 2, and upstream with respect to the direction of the ow of the fuel mixture while the portion 28 of the throttle plate with the least area extends generally downwardly, as viewed in Figs. l and 2. With such a construction, the velocity and pressure forces exerted on the throttle plate 22 by the passage of the fuel mixture through the passageway 14 tend to move the throttle plate toward the closed position. 4

The end portions of the shaft 24 are journaled for oscillation in needle-type roller bearings, such as 30, mounted in suitable bosses 32 and 34 provided on the housing 12 on opposite sides of the passageway 14. As shown in Fig. 4, the end portion 36 of the shaft 24 extends through the bearing in the Iboss 34 and projects into a chamber 38 dened by a housing portion 40 provided on lthe body 12.

The forces exerted on the throttle plate 22 by the passage of the fuel mixture through the passageway 14 tend to vary non-linearly in value as the throttle plate changes position, and in order to balance the closing forces exerted on the throttle plate, at governed speed, in all positions, a reactance mechanism generally designated 42 is provided which is `disposed in the open sided chamber 38 defined by the housing portion 40. The reactance mechanism 42 is comprised of a `cam 44 which is lixed to the shaft 24 at a position adjacent the boss 34, the configuration of the surface 46 of the cam 44 being determined by the characteristics of the particular engine with which the governor is associated. A exible tape 48 is provided, one end of which is fixed to the cam 44 as at 50. The tape 48 extends over the cam surface 46 and the distal end of the tape is iixed to one end of a coil spring 52 While the convolutions of the opposite end portion of the spring 52 threadably engage an adjusting screw 54 carried by the housing portion 40 of the body 12. With such a construction, the force exerted by the spring is applied through varying radii to resist the non-linear closing effort of the throttle plate.

In accordance Withthe present invention, the reactance mechanism is provided with an over center device 56 which is comprised of an operating arm 53, one end portion of which is mounted on the shaft 24. The operating arm 58 is adjustably secured to the side wall 6@ of the cam i4 through the: agency of a screw 62 which passes through an elongate slot 64 and threadably engages the cam. With such a construction, the angular position of the arm 58 relative to the cam 44 may be adjusted and the arm 58 locked in a selected adjusted position through the agency of the screw 62. The end portion of the arm 53 remote from the shaft 24 carries a pin 66, and one end portion of a coil spring ed is secured to the pin 66. The other end portion of the coil spring 63 is secured to an adjusting screw 70 which projects through an outwardly projecting ange 72 provided on the housing portion 40, the screw 7i) being retained by nuts 74 and 76.

As shown in Figure l, when the throttle plate 22 is in the wide open position, the line of action of the coil spring 68 acting on the arm 53 is below the longitudinal axis of the shaft 24 with the result that the over center device 56 applies torque to the shaft 24 so as to resist closing movement of the throttle plate 22. As shown in Fig. 2, as the line of action of the coil spring 68 acting on the arm S passes above the longitudinal axis of the shaft 24, the over center device 56 applies torque to the shaft 24 which assists in closing the throttle plate 22. With such a construction, the over center device 56 aids in no load or light load control by the addition of closing torque on the shaft and also enables the engine to reach higher full load speeds and greater full load power by the addition of opening torque which resists the initial closing movement of the throttle plate.

Referring to Fig. 5, a graph is illustrated showing thc effective torque applied to the throttle plate 22 by the over center device 56. As shown in Fig. 5, when the throttle plate is in the wide open position, a negative or opening torque is applied to the shaft 24 so as to resist the initial closing movement of the throttle plate. As the throttle plate moves toward the fully closed position due to the velocity and pressure forces exerted thereon by the passage of the fuel mixture through the passageway 14, the negative torque is reduced so that the torque applied by the over center device 56 may be zero when the throttle plate has traveled, for example, approximately ten degrees. It will be understood that this relationship may be readily varied through the agency of the screw 62. Positive or closing torque is then applied to the shaft 24 by the over center device 56 so as to assist the closing movement of the throttle plate, the torque reaching a maximum when the throttle plate is at the fully closed position. By way of illustration, the maximum negative or opening torque when the throttle plate is in the wide open position may be in the order of .65 inch-ounces and the maximum positive or closing torque may be in the order of 3.0 inch-ounces, the throttle plate having a total travel of approximately 5'/ degrees.

Referring to Fig. 6, a graph is illustrated with the engine horsepower plotted as the ordinate and the engine speed plotted as the abscissa. In the graph of Fig. 6, the dotted lines represent the engine governor curves of a governor without the over center device 56 and the solid lines indicate the engine governor curves of the same governor provided with the over center device 56. In the graph of Fig. 6, A indicates the gain in peak horse power obtaintable under full load conditions when the over center device resists the initial closing movement of the throttle plate. B indicates the reduction in no load speed which is effected by the over center device which serves to assist the closing movement of the throttle plate. C represents the total regulation or speed control range of a governor without the over center device, and D represents the total regulation or speed control range of the same governor provided with the over center device. It Will also be appreciated that the over center device 56 will reduce the governing speed of the governor at relatively high altitudes where the pressure differential on the throttle plate is inherently reduced from that prevailing at sea level under the same load and speed conditions. In such cases, the over center device assists in the closing movement of the throttle plate and compensates for the reduction in the pressure differential.

The cham ser 38 is closed by a closure member 78 which is secured to the housing portion 40 of the body 12 as by screws Sti. For the purpose of stabilizing the throttle plate 212 and to prevent throttle cheat, a piston S2 is provided which is rcciprocally mounted in a bore We provided in the housing portion 4t) at a position spaced from the chamber 33, thc outer end of the bore 34 being sealed by a plug 36 retained by any suitable or conventional One end of a piston rod 3S is fixed to the piston 82 and the piston rod 83 extends through an opening E@ provided in the wall dcining theV passageway 14. The end portion of the rod which extends into the passageway 14 is provided with a recess 9h adapted to receive a laterally extending portion 92 of an actuating member 94, the portion 92 being fixed to the member 94, as by a .rivet 96, and the end portion of the member 94- remote from the portion 92 is fixed to the upper portion 26 of the throttle plate With such a construction, longitudinal movement of the piston toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, effects rotation of the throttle plate 22 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 24 in a direction to move the throttle plate toward the closed position, While movement of the piston toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, effects rotation of the throttle plate 22 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 2d in a direction to move the throttle paate toward the open position. The rod end portion ot the bore 84; is connected with the passageway 14 by the opening 39 in the wall defining the passageway 14 while the head end portion of the bore 34 communicates with the atmosphere, such communication being effected through openings such as 9S provided in the wall of the housing portion fill defining the bore 84. With such a construction, an increase in the vacuum in the passageway le effects an increase in the vacuum at the -rod end of the bore 34 with the result that the piston 82 tends to move toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. As the piston moves to the right, the distal end of the rod engages the portion 92 of the actuating member 94 so as to move the member 94 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, thereby effecting rotation of the throttle plate and moving the throttle plate toward the closed position. Since the piston is actuated by the vacuum in the passageway 14, such a construction substantially prevents throttle cheat. Such -a construction also enables the piston to assist the forces exerted on the throttle plate by the liow of the fuel mixture through the passageway to move'the throttle plate toward the closed position and at the Sametime provides a stabilizing effect on the throttle plate because of the dashpot action of the piston, thereby reducing hunting of the governor to a minimum.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown `and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a governor for internal combustion engines, a body defining a fuel mixture passageway, an unbalanced throttle plate mounted in said passageway, said throttle plate being adapted to be moved toward the closed position by the flow of fuel through said passageway, resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the open position, and means effective to urge said throttle plate toward the open position during an initial increment of travel of said throttle plate from the open position toward the closed position, said last mentioned means also being effective to urge said throttle plate toward the closed position'after said throttle plate has traveled a predetermined amount toward the closed position.

2. In a governor for internal combustion engines, the combination including a body dening a fuel mixture passageway, a-n unbalanced throttle plate pivotally mounted in said passageway, said throttle plate adapted to be moved toward the closed position by the ow of fuel through said passageway, resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the open position, and means operatively connected to said throttle plate and effective to urge said throttle plate toward the open position during a predetermined increment of pivotal movement of said throttle plate and effective to urge said throttle plate toward the closed position during another increment of pivotal movement of sa'id throttle plate.

3. In a speed governor for internal combustion engines, a body deni'ng a fuel mixture passageway, an unbalanced throttle plate pivotally mounted in said passageway and supported by said body, said throttle plate being adapted to be moved toward the closed position by the ilow of fuel through said passageway, resilient means urging said throttle plate toward the open position, and additional resilient means urging said throttle plate toward the open position during one increment of movement of said throttle plate, and urging said throttle plate toward the closed position during another increment of movement of said throttle plate.

4. In a speed governor for internal combustion engines, the combination including a body defining a fuel mixture passageway, an unbalanced throttle plate pivotally mounted in said passageway and supported by said body, said throttle plate being adapted to be moved toward the closed position by the flow of fuel mixture through said passageway, resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the open position, and means including additional resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the open position during the initial increments of movement of said throttle plate from the open position toward the closed position, said additional resilient means also being effective to urge said throttle plate toward the closed position during the final movement of said throttle plate toward the closed position.

5. In a speed governor for internal combustion engines, the combination including a body defining a fuel mixture passageway, an unbalanced throttle plate pivotally mounted in said passageway and supported by said body, said throttle plate being adapted to be moved toward the closed position by the ow of fuel mixture through said passageway, resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the open position, and means including spring means operatively connected to said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the open position during the initial increments of movement of said throttle plate from the open position Atoward the closed position, said spring means also beingelective to urge said throttle plate toward the closed position during the final movement of said throttle plate toward the closed position.

6. In a velocity-type governor for internal combustion engines, a body defining a fuel mixture passageway, an unbalanced throttle plate pivotally mounted in said passageway, said throttle plate being adapted to be moved toward the closed position by the flow of fuel mixture through said passageway, resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the ope-n position, and means including over center spring means operatively connected to said throttle plate and responsive to the movement of said throttle plate for urging said throttle plate toward the open and closed positions.

7. A speed governor for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, a body defining a fuel mixture passageway, an unbalanced throttle plate pivotally mounted in said passageway, the larger of the unbalanced areas of said throttle plate normally projecting upstream of said passageway whereby the fuel mixture flowing through said passageway urges said throttle plate toward the closed position, rst resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate land urging said throttle plate toward the open position, and second resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and actuable in response to the movement of said throttle plate to urge said tlhrottle plate toward the open position during a predetermined initial increment of movement of said throttle plate toward the closed position and effective after sa'id predetermined increment of movement to urge said throttle plate toward the closed position.

8. A speed governor for internal combustion engines including, in combination, a body defining a fuel mixture passageway, an unbalanced throttle plate pivotally mounted in said passageway, the larger of the unbalanced areas of said throttle plate normally projecting upstream of said passageway whereby the yfuel mixture flowing through said passageway urges said throttle plate toward the closed position, tirst resilient means carried by said body and operatively connected to said throttle plate for urging said throttle plate toward the open position, and means including second resilient means operatively connected to said throttle plate and operable in response to pivotal movement of said throttle plate for urging said throttle plate toward the open position during a predetermined increment of pivotal movement of said throttle plate and urging said throttle plate toward the closed position during another increment of pivotal movement of said throttle plate.

Cruse Nov. 9, 1920 Ruby Oct. 8, 1946 

